Airplane Ownership Issues

Contents

• Pros and Cons
• Costs of Ownership
• High-Wing vs. Low-Wing
• Car Gas

Pros and Cons

Some benefits of ownership (some of these assume you are the sole owner):

• No scheduling problems. The airplane is available whenever you want it. (For me, the best reason to own.)
• No rental minimums. (Go for the day or the week, and fly as much or as little as you want. My #2 reason.)
• Knowing and controlling how and when maintenance is done
• Nobody flies the airplane without your permission (no wondering what damage might have been done since your last flight).
• Customize the airplane to suit your needs
• Snob appeal. ("I was out flying MY airplane the other day...")
• Market value can increase enough to pay for ownership costs (or so I've heard).
• You can leave your stuff (charts, airport guide, etc.) in the airplane.
• A great excuse to fly more often, to reduce the hourly cost
• Parking in the hangar instead of on the ramp, in the sun

Disadvantages:

• Maintenance costs and responsibility
• Disincentive to learn from flying other types of airplanes
• Loss of use of airplane when it's in the shop
• Washing, waxing, vacuuming, etc.

Continue to Costs of Ownership.